Sunday Mirror

KOP GAFFER: JUR A WORLD BEATER, SEAN

- BY SIMON MULLOCK

JURGEN KLOPP has told Sean Dyche that keeping Burnley in the Premier League is as impressive as winning the title.

The Liverpool boss is full of praise for what Dyche (above) has achieved at Turf Moor – ahead of his team’s trip to face the bottomof-the-table Clarets – and reckons no other manager could have done it.

Klopp and Dyche are the longest-serving managers in the top-flight – and both have a very different list of priorities.

Klopp said: “I don’t think – and I honestly mean it – that any other manager could have achieved what Sean has achieved at Burnley.

“That’s the truth. I was not here at Liverpool when they were relegated and came back.

“But since I’ve been here, Burnley is Premier League.

“The resources they have, in comparison with other countries, are really good.

“But, in comparison with other Premier League clubs, obviously not that good.

“Staying that stable in the Premier League is a massive achievemen­t. I have to say, it’s as big as winning the league with other clubs. For sure, they get all my respect.”

Liverpool go into the game needing all three points to stay within striking distance of Manchester City at the top of the table.

But the Kop chief has had his fingers burnt by Burnley before.

He has won seven of his 11 meetings with Dyche – suffering a 2-0 defeat at Turf Moor in 2016 and then losing 1-0 at Anfield last season.

The pair had a volatile exchange of views when Dyche explained why he helped block Klopp’s proposal that

Premier League clubs should be allowed to

use five substitute­s. But Klopp said: “Burnley is one of the two or three places in the league where you think, ‘Aah, I am not really looking forward to it’.

“Especially not at the beginning. The first time, it was, ‘Oh my God’ – but then you get experience and learn more, realise the battles around the touchline and stuff like this. It’s part of the deal.

“But my respect couldn’t be bigger. I have to say nobody else could have done it.”

Burnley is one place you think, ‘I’m not looking

forward to it’

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